All Roll Calls
Yes: 141 • No: 47
New JerseyA796221st Legislature (2026-2027)HouseWALLET
Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs.**
Sponsored By: David Bailey Jr. (Democratic), John J. Burzichelli (Democratic), Clinton Calabrese (Democratic), Joe Danielsen (Democratic), John F. McKeon (Democratic), Eliana Pintor Marin (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.
Homes Get Priority During Power Emergencies
The Board's standards must require utilities to cut large data center loads before residential loads during system emergencies. Designated critical loads are excluded, and data center cuts count as firm load shedding. Separately, data centers that secure capacity resources receive protection from earlier cuts under regional connect-and-manage programs or their successors. That protection applies only up to the capacity those resources provide.
Data Center Payment Guarantees With Exemptions
Large data centers must guarantee payment for at least 85% of requested power for 10 years, unless Board standards set otherwise. Utilities must require financial security against closure or lower-than-expected use; new customers must pay reasonable connection and system-study costs. The Board can recover stranded costs only from the large data center customer class. Service approved before July 7, 2026, is exempt from these guarantees, security requirements, and specified study costs. The Board can phase in cost allocation for that approved amount, but added service faces the tariff and applicable requirements.
Data Centers Pay Their Power Costs
The law takes effect July 7, 2026, and requires New Jersey's utility board to set standards within 12 months. The law defines large data centers at 100 megawatts; the Board's service standards set a threshold no greater than 50 megawatts. Related facilities count together, and data centers must cover their service costs without shifting them to other customers. Utilities must seek special rate approval within 180 days after the standards are set; rates apply after approval. Covered pending applications face those rates when service starts, unless the Board finds that unfair. Applicants must disclose similar pending requests elsewhere, while utilities screen for duplicate construction and protect sensitive business information.
Data Centers Share Backup Power Costs
Utilities must show data centers the load and capacity information they plan to submit to the regional grid operator. Data centers have a chance to correct that information before submission. When their load enters a large-load adjustment, they must pay a proportionate share of applicable reliability backstop costs. Capacity resources they secure reduce that share, using capacity values assessed by the Board.
Flexible Data Centers Get Priority Connections
Large data centers must make at least one demand-flexibility commitment and report actual performance each year. Options include power cuts, enforceable performance standards with financial penalties, qualifying contracts, or a voluntary demand-reduction trade program. That program lets data centers pay other customers on the same utility system for verified demand reductions. Utilities cannot charge other ratepayers for program transaction costs, and reductions generally cannot count again under other government programs. Utilities must prioritize connections for data centers with binding commitments to provide clean generation, storage, or qualifying demand reductions.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
David Bailey Jr.
Democratic • House
John J. Burzichelli
Democratic • Senate
Clinton Calabrese
Democratic • House
Joe Danielsen
Democratic • House
John F. McKeon
Democratic • Senate
Eliana Pintor Marin
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Rosaura Bagolie
Democratic • House
James Beach
Democratic • Senate
Ravi S. Bhalla
Democratic • House
Katie Brennan
Democratic • House
Joseph P. Cryan
Democratic • Senate
Patrick J. Diegnan Jr.
Democratic • Senate
Margie Donlon M.D.
Democratic • House
Linda R. Greenstein
Democratic • Senate
Robert J. Karabinchak
Democratic • House
Andrew Macurdy
Democratic • House
Angela V. McKnight
Democratic • Senate
William F. Moen Jr.
Democratic • House
Paul D. Moriarty
Democratic • Senate
Raj Mukherji
Democratic • Senate
Luanne M. Peterpaul Esq.
Democratic • House
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson
Democratic • House
Balvir Singh
Democratic • House
Troy Singleton
Democratic • Senate
Shanique Speight
Democratic • House
Lisa Swain
Democratic • House
Chris Tully
Democratic • House
Shirley K. Turner
Democratic • Senate
Michael Venezia
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/30/2026
CONCUR IN SA
Yes: 59 • No: 18
Senate vote • 6/30/2026
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 27 • No: 11
House vote • 3/23/2026
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 55 • No: 18
Actions Timeline
Governor: APP
7/7/2026GovernorApproved by Governor — P.L.2026, c.32.
7/7/2026GovernorPassed Assembly, PBH — (59-18-0)
6/30/2026HouseReceived in Assembly, 2RAC
6/30/2026HousePassed Senate — (27-11)
6/30/2026SenateSubstituted for S731 (3R)
6/30/2026SenateSA, 2nd Reading in Senate — (Voice) (Ruiz)
6/18/2026SenateSA, 2nd Reading in Senate — (Voice) (Ruiz)
5/28/2026SenateReceived in Senate, SWR, 2nd Reading in Senate
5/4/2026SenatePassed Assembly — (55-18-0)
3/23/2026HouseREP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly
3/19/2026HouseRCM Assembly Appropriations Committee
3/19/2026HouseREP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly
2/12/2026HouseIntroduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
1/13/2026House
Bill Text
Version AL2026
9/17/2026
Senate 6/18/26 4R
7/1/2026
Senate 6/18/26 3R
6/18/2026
Senate 5/28/26 2R
5/29/2026
Senate 5/28/26 3R
5/29/2026
Assembly Appropriations (3/19/26 2R)
3/24/2026
Assembly Appropriations Substitute (3/19/26 1R)
3/20/2026
Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities (2/12/26 1R)
3/20/2026
Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Substitute (2/12/26)
2/13/2026
As Introduced
2/12/2026
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